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    Iowa Keeps Creating: Digital Stage

    Iowa Keeps Creating: Digital Stage

    Scroll to bottom to listen to the Digital Stage Resiliency playlist.
    Caption Zoom

    Created by the Iowa Arts Council, this digital stage aims to support, amplify and celebrate Iowa musicians, live performance artists and filmmakers by showcasing that Iowa Keeps Creating, despite, and sometimes inspired by, the challenges of 2020 including the global pandemic and reinvigorated national civil rights movement.

    The videos and music featured on this digital stage all speak to the theme of “Resiliency.” Be sure to check out the Spotify playlist at the bottom of the page for more Iowa music!

    See something you like? You can *virtually* tip these Iowa artists, musicians and filmmakers, purchase their work, and follow their social media pages to show your support. Information on how to do so is provided below.

    February Theme: Resiliency

    Lily DeTaeye | Tusk

    “I was touring pretty heavily until March of 2020. Staying home made me really slow down, focus on the songs, and evaluate who I am as a musician. I'm so excited to get back on the road, but I have really valued this time to recenter.”

    Lily DeTaeye is a folk-rock Americana firecracker based in Iowa City with alt-rock and blues influences. She’s a spirited songwriter and a harmonica-wielding rebel that will remind you of your weird friend from book club who definitely has a few skeletons in her closet. Between her candid nature onstage and the playful accessibility of the band, she leaves audiences feeling as if they were right there on the stage with her. 

    Lily DeTaeye appears courtesy of Station 1 Records. 


    Get Social: @lilydetaeye Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook
    lilydetaeye.com | Virtual Tip Jar: Venmo: @lilydetaeye PayPal: lily.detaeye@gmail.com

    Dawson Davenport & the Indigenous Peoples Art Gallery & Cafe | #StayHome Virtual Poetry Reading Series 

    “The pandemic has been both a blessing and a curse. It has allowed me to create my own artistic outlet showcasing Indigenous People's from all across the country. But, the lack of having public performances has made me miss being in front of an audience.”

    Dawson Davenport is a Meskwaki from the Meskwaki Nation in Iowa. Dawson is a 2019 Graduate of the University of Iowa’s Art Program and the founder of the Indigenous Art Alliance, a nonprofit working to promote Indigenous Arts and Artists. Dawson also created the Indigenous Peoples Art Gallery and Café in Iowa City, a space for Indigenous Artists to showcase their work. He is a painter, poet, graphic designer, and screen-printer as well as an event organizer. Dawson uses all forms of art to promote the message of Balance, which is inspired by his Meskwaki teachings. 

    Get Social: Instagram: @daepian_brand, @indigenousartalliance, @indigenouspeoplesgallerycafe
    Virtual Tip Jar: Cashapp: $ddavenport2021 Venmo: @elderfoodbox

    Fred Ebong | DOUBT

    “In 2020, I had a lot of projects put on hold or cancelled, as was the case for most filmmakers. I turned to remote work like editing, but, despite the drawbacks, was also able to work on more passion projects. For instance, this narrative film about an MMA fighter I had the pleasure of meeting touches on how doubt negatively affected his life and the steps he took to conquer it.”

    Cedar Rapids filmmaker Fred Ebong grew up in Port Harcourt, Nigeria where he developed a strong curiosity and love for human interaction while attending boarding school. During trips back home, he remembers his father telling vivid stories of war, survival and the uncomplicated joys of a simpler time. These stories inspired Fred to become a great storyteller like his father.

    An increasing interest in capturing human connection, paired with his father's keen sense of storytelling, led Fred to a fulfilling career as a visual artist and filmmaker. He assists companies and individuals with film projects including commercials, music videos, narrative short films, etc. Through telling stories about people all around the world, Fred discovered the more we listen and absorb stories of others, the more we learn about ourselves. 

    Get Social: Facebook: Fred Ebong Studios, Instagram: @fredebong
    fredebongstudios.com | Virtual Tip Jar: Venmo: @fredEbong

    EleanorGrace | Lighthouse

    “In a lot of ways, 2020 took the pressure off of me as an artist, giving me time to write for the purpose of having fun while finishing high school a year early. While grieving the loss of my favorite part of being a musician (playing live!), I learned how enjoyable talking to fans and friends alike on social media is. As challenging, eye-opening, and thought-provoking last year was, I had the privilege of being able to write through it all and I can’t wait to share all of the things I was able to work on in isolation with everyone.”

    EleanorGrace is a 17 year old songwriter hailing from Des Moines, Iowa. Her writing explores themes of isolation, incongruity, and existentialism, supported by lush indie-pop sounds and strong vocals. Her debut single, Lighthouse, was released in 2019 at the age of 15 and was quickly placed on a Spotify editorial playlist called Zuhause. Today, it’s garnered over 500,000 streams from a diverse global audience. Eleanor is currently working on loads of new music and is incredibly excited to share what she’s written over the past year. 

    Get Social: @eleanorthegrace on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook
    eleanor-grace.com | Virtual Tip Jar: Venmo: @eleanorthegrace

    #IowaKeepsCreating   #FundIowaCultureMakers   #IowaArts   #IowaCulture

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